The Las Vegas Raiders have built a solid team around Fernando Mendoza, but this offense could do with a physical boundary receiver like Michael Wilson. A trade would have made a ton of sense, but those hopes have gone up in smoke.
Wilson agreed to a three-year, $75 million contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals that could pay him as much as $78 million and guarantees $47 million at signing. Wilson is locked in for the long haul across the desert, though he could have had a more viable long-term home just one state away.
While it would have been unlikely for the Raiders to work out some sort of trade for Wilson before the season, he could have been a quality trade deadline acquisition if the Cardinals were out of it and the Raiders were starting to transition away from Kirk Cousins.
Instead, Wilson has committed to what Mike LaFleur is building in Arizona.
Las Vegas Raiders trade target Michael Wilson extends with Cardinals
Wilson's size at 6-foot-2 and over 210 pounds would have gotten teams interested in him, as would his ability to run a fairly complex route tree.
With no physical or schematic limitations, Wilson could line up all over the offense and use his size to become a reliable third-down target for Mendoza when teams focus on Brock Bowers.
Wilson did just that, even appearing more in sync with starter Jacoby Brissett than No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. at times.
He recorded his first 1,000-yard season last year, and Wilson did so on a team that was going nowhere with subpar quarterback play. Imagine what Klint Kubiak and Mendoza could do.
Michael Wilson would have fit with Fernando Mendoza and the Las Vegas Raiders
Mendoza and the Raiders have been crying out for a big-bodied receiver who can be on the end of back-shoulder throws while making his presence known in the red zone, and Wilson has all the physical traits needed to fill that archetype with some aplomb.
If he can record 1,000-yard seasons as the No. 3 option in Arizona, imagine what he could do with an increased target share in Las Vegas.
The Raiders have the cap space and NFL Draft capital to add wide receiver help for Mendoza at some point early in his NFL tenure, but Wilson could have been a perfect under-the-radar player who doesn't break the bank.
With that avenue all but closed, John Spytek will need to look elsewhere for Mendoza's X receiver of the future.
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